This is stolen from here mostly, since only few things have changed...----------------------------------------------------------------------

The purpose of this thread is to (finally) test LAME 3.96 throughly enough to make it the new recommended LAME version and enhance communication between LAME developers and the HA.org community. The recent confusion about the different LAME versions and compiles (-Qrcd trouble etc.) have led to the decision that moving along with LAME development has been postponed for long enough and LAME 3.90.X can hopefully be declared dead very soon.Please test as many samples as possible according to the following guidelines and post any results here.

2. The focus of the test should be --alt-preset/--preset standard, since it will allow us to make conclusions regarding the overall performance of the 'code level tweaked' VBR presets. Other VBR/ABR/CBR presets are interesting too, but not as important. If problems with --alt preset standard are detected feel free to compare extreme and insane too. Test the following combinations please:

If you want, you can additionally test VBR/ABR vs. CBR at comparable bitrates

3. You may use any sample you want, as long as you upload a losslessly compressed version of that (or provide a working link), so others can verify your results. The upload thead is here. Using samples that have been used for testing 3.96beta is a good idea to show progress/regressions.

4. Your test results have to include the following:

ABX results for3.90.3 vs. Original3.96 vs. Original3.96 vs. 3.90.3

ABC/HR results are appreciated especially at lower bitrates, but shouldn't be considered a requirement.

(Short) descriptions of the artifacts/differences

Notes:

*Since ABR presets decrease gain as workarround against audible clipping on decoding of loud tracks, please use replaygain (trackgain) for decoding to .wav / ABXing, ideally using foobar2000 (apply to the original as well to get matching volume, of course!). On quiet tracks --scale 1 can be added after --(alt-)preset <bitrate> on encoding alternatively. Details see here

There won't be a separate discussion thread for now. To make it easy to find posts containing results, please start such posts (only!) with "RESULT". Results matching the requirements that have been posted elsewhere will be added to the "Results" post.